According to researchers at Tel-Aviv University, adding tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to the treatment of patients suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease provides “a potential treatment” for the deadly degenerative neurological disease.

Costing America a little over $ 200 billion in 2013, Alzheimer’s Disease currently affects more than 5 million US citizens. As 1 in 3 seniors face the unpleasant reality of doing battle with AD or some other form of dementia in their lifetime, Alzheimer’s remains firmly entrenched atop the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Coming in at number six.

After successfully conducting one of the first clinical studies of marijuana’s THC cannabinoid on human Alzheimer’s patients, scientists at Israel’s Abarbanel Mental Health Center and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, along with the Department of Psychology, at Bar-Ilan University reported “significant reduction” in the severity of mental distress – particularly in decreasing episodes of irritability, aggression/agitation, delusions and insomnia.

Per the study’s conclusions, marijuana’s “tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is safe and a promising treatment option” for those suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Read the full text of the study, “Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis Oil for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia” here.